The Pompton Lakes boys basketball team enjoyed a season to remember this winter as they finished the season with a 19-6 record.

Pompton Lakes head boys basketball coach

Mike McCarthy

POMPTON LAKES – On March 6th, members of the Pompton Lakes boy's basketball team proudly walked around the halls of Pompton Lakes High School wearing their game jerseys. Once the school day ended members of the team headed to the gym to shoot around and work on improving their games.

The fact that the Cardinals season had come to an end on March 5th did little to squelch the hunger to play basketball for much of the team.

"On the bus ride home from Verona a couple of the guys asked if we could spend time in the gym the next day and shoot around and hang out as a team," said Pompton Lakes coach Mike McCarthy.

In years past as soon as the basketball season ended the team all went their separate ways not to come back together until practice started the following November. The close knit bond that this year's team had was a key component as to why the team was able to win 19 games, including a win in both the Passaic County and North I, Group 1 sectional tournaments.

"We had a great run and this team had a great chemistry," said McCarthy. "This team was so unselfish from the starters to the bench players everyone had a team first mentality and the ultimate goal was just to win games."

McCarthy points to the dedication of senior captain Zach Pagliaroni as a perfect example of the makeup of the team.

"Zach Pags did not play much in games but he could not have put more into each and every practice," said McCarthy. "It is the stuff like that, the memories that I will not forget."

For junior Jon Tobal, having the opportunity to bring pride back to the Pompton Lakes boys basketball team made the season as much of a success as the victories did.

"I am very proud of the record that we had. We won the first county game in more then 20 years and we won a state game," said Tobal. "There really is nothing negative to say about this season."

When the season came to an end with a loss to second seeded Verona in the quarterfinals of the North I, Group 1 sectional tournament the team was immediately able to appreciate what they were able to accomplish and not dwell on the sudden end to their season.

"The next day the team was able to appreciate what they did," said McCarthy.

While the season was going on it was hard for the Cardinals to take a step back and realize what they were doing but the Pompton Lakes community did not overlook what was happening.

"It really was a great season. I had grandparents of the players telling me it was a great season and telling us that they were following the team and hoping we did well," said McCarthy.

"The entire school was behind us. Even parents of students who weren't even on the team came out to the games and to support us," added Tobal.

With the end of the 2013-14 season the Cardinals bid adieu to seniors Pagliaroni, Eric Moeltner and Adam and Drew Rayford. While they will be missed when next season starts the Cardinals that will return are already eager to get back on the court and build on what was accomplished this winter.

"We are already talking about getting stronger and getting ready for next year," said Tobal. "It will be rough without the seniors from this year's team but we will not go backwards. We will do everything that we can to improve next season."